Australian
Horse of the Year Dissident narrowly missed posting his first winner in New
Zealand at Riccarton on Tuesday when his two year-old colt Challa went down to
expensive Fastnet Rock filly Puysegur.
The Jamie Richards trained Puysegur is a three-quarter sister to the
stable's star three-year-old Avantage, last season's Champion 2YO, who also won
the corresponding race on debut last year.
Puysegur is raced by her South Island breeders Willie and Karen Calder, who
bought her back for $550,000 at the NZB Book One Yearling Sale this year from The
Oaks Stud draft.
"She's very much like Avantage, but a slightly bigger version and
hopefully she can be half as good," Willie Calder said.
Her stablemate Challa was beaten only half a neck in the 800 metre scamper and
will doubtless find his turn to win in coming weeks and months.